Durango moto rental, which bike?

[lucydad]

All,

So I want to rent a motorcycle for a day or two while in my home town of Durango, CO, mid-June.  Riding will be on pavement mostly, perhaps a bit of dirt in San Juan National Forest. Nothing extreme like the mountain passes.

 Two bikes have seats low enough for me: BMW 650 GS, and Suzuki V Strom 650 ABS Adventure.  Any comments?  I am leaning towards the Wee-Strom due to lower weight.

Vetted the rental group:  Mountain ADV in Durango.  Quick replies to questions. Never rented a motorcycle before.  Goal is to ride, once again, my home roads.  Last time was 1974.  Costs seem reasonable, they do require extra insurance and a hefty deposit (refundable).

Too far to ride or trailer a bike for me...across all of TX and all of NM. 

Thoughts?  Advice?

[CalVin2007]

 The Wee Strom is NOT light....and it carries weight up high and is a hand full at low speeds,and when parking/mounting/dismounting. I had one for a bit....it's an appliance in my opinion. Maybe just grab a mid sized cruiser...really low seat and it's just a couple days...you may like it!

[lucydad]

CalVin,

Thanks, this is why I am asking:  knowledgeable experience.  They also have a Suzuki Boulevard M50, 600 pounds, but low seat, a cruiser.  Any opinion on that?  Frankly I wish they had just a basic bike.  They specialize in off road bikes, with very high seats.

Possible to rent a HD also, I think?  Have not checked.  An 883 Sportster could be ok.

[Scud]

I rented a BMW R1200GS from an outfit in Aurora, CO last year. Had a blast and went on a few dirt roads. It was nice to have the ADV bike for that - along with the luggage for storing clothes in anticipation of dramatic changes in temperature. If you have a GPS, bring your own. The place I rented from had RAM balls on all the bikes - so I was able to use my own RAM GPS holder as well.

My philosophy on rental bikes is: any bike will do. I don't rent frequently (may 10 times total), but I generally prefer to rent a bike I have never ridden before.

[Lcarlson]

I rented a BMW R1200GS from an outfit in Aurora, CO last year. Had a blast and went on a few dirt roads. It was nice to have the ADV bike for that - along with the luggage for storing clothes in anticipation of dramatic changes in temperature. If you have a GPS, bring your own. The place I rented from had RAM balls on all the bikes - so I was able to use my own RAM GPS holder as well.

My philosophy on rental bikes is: any bike will do. I don't rent frequently (may 10 times total), but I generally prefer to rent a bike I have never ridden before.

The standard R1200GS is tall (and pretty big).  Since that's a concern, the cruiser suggestion is pretty good. It's a relaxed type of ride, and it's just a rental....

[oldbike54]

 Rent the 650 GS BMW .

 Dusty

[Lcarlson]

Well, it's not clear if this is the F650 GS (800 cc twin) or the F650 GS (650 cc single, now designated the G650GS). That would make a difference to me.

[oldbike54]

Well, it's not clear if this is the F650 GS (800 cc twin) or the F650 GS (650 cc single, now designated the G650GS). That would make a difference to me.

 True , but having ridden both , either one will work for LD's purposes . The thread had already drifted to a discussion about the 1200 GS , a completely different animal .

 Dusty

[mjptexas]

Rent the 650 GS BMW .

 Dusty

What he said.  OMG! I'm agreeing with Dusty?!

[Lcarlson]

True , but having ridden both , either one will work for LD's purposes . The thread had already drifted to a discussion about the 1200 GS , a completely different animal .

 Dusty

True again, and upon reflection, I have to doubt that a rental outfit is offering the former F650 GS single. It's too old at this point -- out of production under that designation for many years.

[PJPR01]

All,

So I want to rent a motorcycle for a day or two while in my home town of Durango, CO, mid-June.

Durango  - Silverton - Ouray and back...can't ask for a more fun route than that!

Durango - Cortez - past Lizard head to Telluride - a bit of a different type of fun as well along the Dolores river!

I suspect I'll be hitting Durango around June 19/20 on the way to Oregon for the National...if you're there at the time, let's have a coffee at Jean-Pierre's on Main street.

[oldbike54]

What he said.  OMG! I'm agreeing with Dusty?!

 I know it's almost impossible for a Texan to agree with an Okie on anything 

 

True again, and upon reflection, I have to doubt that a rental outfit is offering the former F650 GS single. It's too old at this point -- out of production under that designation for many years.

 Kind of what I was thinking .

 Dusty

[lucydad]

Paul,

Leaving town on 20th, but if you are in town the 19th...a possible meet.  Jean Pierre's is good,  after all, Durango is MY town.  Coffee shop in 900 block of Main, west side, is a also great. 

Dusty, thanks for the input.  BMW looks like a modern twin.  Wednesday I am going to see if I can get it nailed down.  Thinking a simple ride on an old favorite road:  west out of Durango on 160, thru Hesperus, then to Dolores and up towards Lizard Head pass maybe to Rico for lunch, then back.  Don't think I can handle the entire circle loop.  So many great roads. 

[CalVin2007]

  You know, an 883 (or 1200) Sportster with the low seat is a pretty darned good ride. The modern rubber mounted engine is a sweetheart. With the 883 it's easier to get standard mid-mount pegs and low seating. They are good bikes,IMO,and bulletproof. GREAT fuel mileage in the mountains as well.

[oldbike54]

 Hush Terry .

 Dusty

[PJPR01]

Sounds good Greg...we can plot a bit more on Sunday morning at Fellini's!   

Rico has a fun little tavern there we stopped in last year coming from Telluride for the day, I keep wishing they'd open up the Argentine grill again...but no luck every time I've been thru there.

If you've got an extra day to stretch...Telluride to Gateway along 141 is a FUN twisty ride amongst the red rocks especially with the ride up to Norwood out of Placerville...the climb is a good one.

Horseback riding with Rowdy out in Norwood is great fun...perhaps you and Mrs. might enjoy that as a weekend jaunt (if you like riding horses that is).

Did you know that Jean-Pierre was actually a baker who lived in Houston for a while...very cool guy!

[rocker59]

F650

[canuguzzi]

Forget the 650 V-Strom, might as well get a 1000cc something. Go for the F650.

If you're going to spend time only on pavement and ride a little distance, then the Suki otherwise the F650 is just plain fun.

[SmithSwede]

Another vote for the BMW.   I've for an F800S that I really like (but not as much as the Guzzi). 

[charlie b]

Great area to ride.  I just got back from there.  Went from Durango to Dove Creek, then to CO141, Gateway, then back thru Ouray/Silverton.  Finally stopped at the Gateway resort and had lunch there.  Expensive but good.  Still can't figure out how some hotel chain decided to put a resort in the middle of no where.  My first time on US550 with snow on the mountains.  Really nice.  There is construction on 550 just north of Silverton.  We were stopped there for about 45min.

Bike choice.  If the two advs are too tall then go for a Sporty.  My brother had the Beemer twin and like it, but, he has long legs (and now has the big GS).

[PJPR01]

Finally stopped at the Gateway resort and had lunch there.  Expensive but good.  Still can't figure out how some hotel chain decided to put a resort in the middle of no where.

Nice ride!!!  It's a cool place to stop for sure, a couple years ago I rode out there from Telluride and there was a pretty big forest fire going on over the mountain, several hundred firefighters were camped in their tents on the grounds of the resort, and there were some very cool Helicopters parked right down near the river used to pick up water...the ride is a great one....the stillness of the canyon and going past the Hanging Flume are always nice to see.

Another fun little item for the resort is the Car Museum (Hendricks car collection):

http://www.gatewaycanyons.com/gateway-auto-museum.aspx

[rocker59]

Still can't figure out how some hotel chain decided to put a resort in the middle of no where. 

It wasn't a chain. It was one man. John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel. Hopefully you took a few minutes to look at the car collection. It's something else.

We did a lunch ride to Gateway Canyons from Ouray during the 2013 Western Adventure. Nice 250 mile round trip on some wonderful two-lane Blacktop.

[charlie b]

Nope, did not look at the car collection.

The staff there are interns for a large hotel chain (I did not find out which one).  Seems they train there and then hope to get positions in other places.  The staff there this summer is mostly Phillipino.

The road is one of the nicest I've been on.  Even after all the mountain roads in CO, that one I thought was prettiest.

I also had a bonus.  At one point on the ride I got to watch a guy herd about 200 head up the road from one grazing area to another.  He was alone on horseback, but, he had 5 cattle dogs doing the work.  Fascinating to watch.  One of the dogs was a pup and was learning as he went.  Pretty cool to see him being taught by the rancher and the other dogs.

[CalVin2007]

Hush Terry .

 Dusty

     LOL! Ok, Boss.  Potatopotatopotatop otatopotatopotato

[lucydad]

All,

The BMW 650 is rented for 6/15.  One day may be short, but I will have a lot of fun.  Thanks for the help.  Likely I will get my moneys worth.  Rico is likely destination to avoid the big crowds and Land Whales (Winnebagos).  I still know some pretty cool back roads in La Plata County and Montezuma County.  Plan on at least two more trips this summer and fall.  Might rent for several days in early October and do the 550 run over Ouray and stay with friend near Delta.

I will use a rare word:  excited. 

On top a friend is lending me his ATV while up at the cabin.  A ride down Lime Creek is in order, and maybe up above Purgatory.

[maquette]

DL650    Great bike.

Tom

[rocker59]

Nope, did not look at the car collection.

The staff there are interns for a large hotel chain (I did not find out which one).  Seems they train there and then hope to get positions in other places.  The staff there this summer is mostly Phillipino.

The road is one of the nicest I've been on.  Even after all the mountain roads in CO, that one I thought was prettiest.

I also had a bonus.  At one point on the ride I got to watch a guy herd about 200 head up the road from one grazing area to another.  He was alone on horseback, but, he had 5 cattle dogs doing the work.  Fascinating to watch.  One of the dogs was a pup and was learning as he went.  Pretty cool to see him being taught by the rancher and the other dogs.

Noble House Hotels is the name of the chain Hendricks partnered with.

When I ate there in 2013, it was locals staffing the restaurant.

Cool destination for a day ride. 141 is a fun road

[charlie b]

I would venture to say that CO141 is a must for anyone visiting the area.  I would rank it over most of the mountain roads in CO.